After spending a year teaching in Thailand, I longed to travel with only my quirky self to keep me company. My journey started in Myanmar where temple cycles and village treks exposed me to the past and present of this intriguing nation. I returned to Northern Thailand for a volunteer experience and some of the most ingenious and adrenaline-pumping New Year's celebrations. Indonesia's smiling faces warmed my heart and even coaxed me out on a date or two. Join in if you've ever wanted to experience the beauty of a volcanic sunrise, the joy of Javanese hospitality or the thrill of a five-day water festival where joining a water war is as easy as saying 'Sawatdee!' or 'Hello' for my English readers.